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Listen now | 10 minutes, 11 seconds
Make your own oven and harness the sun for slow cooked food. Jill talks with Jay Mead about the energy efficient solar oven. Though you won't make pot roast in a Chicago winter, Jay swears it's the secret to the tastiest corn. This simple technology is being employed increasingly in places where fuel is scarce or dangerous to gather. It just might be right for more of us.
Published on Aug. 27, 2008 at noon, as part of the The Little Green People Show.
Arthur commented, on September 8, 2008 at 1:36 p.m.:
What about food safety? Can I really leave the food just sitting around in a solar oven all afternoon and then eat it when I get home from work?
I have an iron stomach, and don't get sick from much, but my wife is pretty fussy about that sort of thing.
Christie commented, on September 9, 2008 at 4:43 p.m.:
I don't know that I'd try raw chicken as a first solar cooking venture, but it seems if you choose a sunny day, the cooking temperature can keep bacteria at bay (http://solarcookers.org/basics/health...). The only bellyaching I heard when there were solar cookers at the museum was people wanting to get at the cookies faster.
Beth O. commented, on September 9, 2008 at 9:48 p.m.:
I have a solar oven that I use for lots of things, but not meat. Sometimes (I'm embarrassed to admit) I finish things off in the microwave if they haven't cooked through. Like baked potatoes.
I've never gotten sick. I mean, i have but not from solar cooking.
stephenie commented, on September 10, 2008 at 2:42 p.m.:
The TEENS Program at the Museum made a bunch of solar cookers to experiment with design and different foods. They had a blast and ate everything they cooked. They made brownies, rice and beans, hot dogs and something else, I can't remember. But they had fun learning how to make them and then reaping the rewards of their hard work, and of course... Patience!
Jill commented, on September 17, 2008 at 2:39 p.m.:
Is anyone in Chicago using a solar cooking now that the suns rays aren't above us? I've only ever used mine in the summer, and am a little lazy about hauling it back out if it's not going to be as effective. Comments from Northern Latitudes?